Incubator.



H. L. DAVIS.

INCUBATOR.

yPufcAnon FILED AUG-30. 19:3.

' Patented Oct. 29,1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- TwmmW JL! to nmp H. L, DAVIS.

INCUBATOR.

APPUCAHON FILED AUGSO, x913.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEEI 2- FQLZWOW Wrwewa H. L. DAVIS! NCUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30, m3.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3 MM 4, If 5 k l M j w w Z w w 9 G lwwnkw f/awardlflavis, 5%;

H. L. DAVIS.

INCUBATOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.30. |9|3.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HOWARD L. DAVIS, OF PLUMSTEAD TOWNSHIP, OCEAN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNOR TO HAROLD L.

WATSON, OF LANCASTER,

PENNSYLVANIA.

INCUBATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

Application filed August 30, 1913. Serial N 0. 787,422.

7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HowAnn L. ])Avis, of Plumstead township, in the county of Ocean and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Incubators, whereof the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates more particularly to incubators wherein there are a plurality of compartments so that the capacity of the incubator may be very great.

An object of the invention is to provide an incubator having a compartment provided with means for regulating and proportioning the heat, air and moisture supplied to the compartment,

A further object of the invention is to provide an incubator ot' the above character with a hot water heating" system which includes means for maintaining the water passint; through the system at a predctermimal tem perature.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part he hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings. which show illustration one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1, is a front elevation of an incubator embodying the improvements.

by way 'of Fig. II. is a partial plan view of the some. Fig. III. is an end view showing the heatsect ional view transverse SEN lOlltll View through the tr 'V.

Fig. VIII, i. ii longitudinal sectional view through 0110:; the trays showing the adjustable partitio The invention consists, broadly, in providing an incubator which comprises a plurality of compartments arranged end to end and side to side, and also above each other. The compartments forming the upper tiers are spaced from the lower compartments and are in no way connected therewith. In other words, except for the manner of heating the *eoinpartments, each compartment. is venti- 'by the upper equal lated and the moisture supplied thereto separate] and independently controlled from the ot. iers. Each conipart'uent is provided with an ingress opening through winch fresh air is admitted to the compartment. The fresh air passing to the compartment is led over a tray of water which is preferably heated to a )redetermined temperature and moisture is thereby conveyed by the air into the coin nirtment. The temperature of the compartment is regulated by a thermostat which is connected to a damper. The open ing of the damper toa greater extent allows the heated air to escape and more fresh air to pass into the compartment.

In each compartment there are pivoted trays which support the eggs and these trays may be readily turned by mechanism .extendinp outside of the,compartment. This me hanism. which may he of any desired charactcr, is so constructed that all of the trays in cach compartment maybe sin|ultaneously turncd and said mechanism also inchides devices whereby one or more of those trays may he lisconumtcd from its turning mechanism and locked in fixed position.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the improved incubator consists of a casing 1, which is mounted on suitable supporting lcgs 2, and is divided into commitments. The incubator, also, as herein shown, includes a second casing 3, which is mounted on supporting legs 4, which are in turn mounted on the top of the lower casing. thus iorming a double dc k incubator. Each asing is divided by longitudinal partitions 5 and (3, see Fig. IV, and also by transverse partions 7. This forms compartments 8, located side by side and end to end. The partitions 5 and (3 are separated so as to form a space S), which is closed at the top Wall of the casing. This space is open at the bottom, as at It). The partition 5 is provided with a series of apertures 11, which allow fresh air to pass through the space 9 and through the apertures 11 into the compartments 8,.with which said apertures unconnected. vThe partition (3 is provided with aseries of apertures 12 for a similar purpose. A distributing or baflie plate 13 is located between the artitions and extends to a point slightly elow the o enings 11 and'12, and this divides and l y suppliesand distributes the air to the compartments, and prevents short titrcuiting between any two adjacent compartments.

Each of the compartments 15 also provided withan egress opening 14, through thermostat is so proportioned and connected to the damper that when the'temperature in the compartment increases the damper will a be raised to allow the heated air to escape. This causes fresh air to enter the compartments through the ingress openings and thus bring the temperature of the compartments back to the desired predetermined point! I have shown the opening 14 as disposed at the opposite side of the compartment from the apertures through which the air enters the same. It will be obvious, however, that this opening 14 may be otherwise located, the essential feature being an opening through which the air may readily pass, which opening is controlled by a damper automatically positionedby the temperature in the come partment.

The moisture supplied to the compartments is also automatically controlled. Extending beneath the casing 1 is a trough it which is adapted to contain water, as indicated in Fig. IV. This trough is disposed directly beneath the 0 ening 10 leading into the passage 9, througi which air enters the com artments. It is slightly spaced from the ower wall of the casing so as to permit the air passing to the compartments to pass over the surface of the water in the trough and thus become more or less saturated with moisture depending upon the temperature of the waterand the rapidity with which the air passes intothe compartments. "It 1s well known that slow steady current of air over a. bodyof water, because of its sluggish circulation, carries with it much more moisture than where the air passes rapidly over the surface of the water. Therefore, the rapidity with which the air is changed in theicompartments will vary inverselytheamount of moisture carried into the compartments by the inrushing air for a given volume of air.

In other words, when the temperature is relatively low, in the com artment, the amount of moisture or humi ity of the air is greater and on the other hand, when the temperature of the minis relatively high, the amount of moisture in the-air or humidity will be relatively low.

I'have provided a heating system for each compartment which is so regulated that the heat su plied said compartments from said system is substantially uniform. At the beinning of the hatch, there is little heat 66 rom the eggs and very little expansion of the thermostat, and the damperopens very little beyond its normal set position. This causes a slow stead circulation of air over i the moisture trougi into the compartment. This steady slow current of air carries with it much moisture into the compartment and to the eggs, which is the desired condition at this tune of the hatch. As the hatch progresses a greater amount Ofheat is developed in the eggs, which causes an expansion of the thermostat and enlarges the opening controlled by the damper, which causes a astercirculatlon of air through-the compartment and over the moisture trough. This supply of fresh air increasesthe. air cells in the eggs and providesmore room and more air to strengthen the chicks, and also decreases the moisture in the air. In other words, by the devices above described I am' able to automatically increase the ventilation and decrease the moisture in the air as the hatchprogresses.

The heating system, as shown in the drawings, consists of a heater 20, which maiir talus substantially auniform degree of heat. This heater is provided with a water circulating system which is connected by pipes 21 to ipes 22 leading in and about the top of eac compartment in the lower casing. Pipes 23 are connected with'pipes24, which leadin and about each compartment in the upper casing. The hot water system is also provided with an expansion chamber 25, having a float which is connected with a lever26, which is moved to control certain connections 27 and 28 to the dampers for the heater which automatically maintains the water in the s stem at a predetermined temperaturc. The water in the troughs 19 is heated by a pipe 29, and this pipe is also connected to a separate water system in the heater 20-. The temperature ofthe water in the pipe 29 may be determined by a ther-Q mometer 30. I have shown in each of the upper compartments aradiating plate 31, which is located beneath the heating pipes and causes an even distribution of heat through the com artments before leaving the same." In or er to control the flow of water and hence the temperature in the upper incubatorsection, I have provided the inlet and outlet pipes 23 with the valve 82. By this means, the flow of water in-the upper section can be independently cone trolledand the'temperature in the said up per section is maintained uniform with that of the lower section Ifit were not'for this methodof control. the temperature of the upper section would always be higher than that of thelower sectiomowing to the tend- -seeti n.

From th above description. it will be apparent that I have provided an incubator with a heating system wherein the amount of heat supplied to each compartment may he kept uniform or changed as desired. to meet the difi'erent conditions through the entire period of incubation. l have also provided means whereby the temperature in the tompartment may be automatically regulated. and this automatic regulation of the temperature also controls the amount of fresh air and the amolmt of moisture sup plied to the rom mrtment. This automatic control of the heating element. also of the temperature ot the compartment. and also the automatic control of the fresh air and the moisture supplied. contribute jointty it they are properly proportioned to a greater efficiency in the hatch.

The eggs are supported in the comparments by trays iii These trays 33 may be of any desired construction so as to permit free access of air to the eggs therein. and so that the trays; may he turned either sid: up and still maintain and properly support the eggs. As herein shown. each tray consists of a frame which is formed in two sections .54 and 35. Each section is provided with a wire netting an, on one of which the eggs rest and the other holds the eggs in place thereon. The eggs are placed in one section of the tray and then the other section is placed on the first section and this. as above noted. holds the eggs.

These trays are adapted to be received by supports each of which comprises end members 57 and 38. joined by suitable spacing bars 3 The end members 37 and 38, are provided with trunnions 40. whereby the supports are pivotally secured to the lateral dividing partition. The trays are received between paired projections or ledges l1 and 42. formed integrally with the end members $57 and 33 The ledges II are provided with springs 43. which engage the trays and hold them tirmly in position in the supports. The extent to which the trays may he slid into the supports is determined by lugs or stops 45. which are secured to the upper and lower members of the tray aml engage with ends of th ledges 41 and 42. on the members 37 and 5H. as best shown in Fig. VII. These stops also prevent sidewise shifting of the trays during turning.

The member 238. at; one end of the tray support. is in the form of a gear 47. In each compartment. as herein shown. there are two trays and these trays are of such size and so disposed in the compartnu-nts that they may be rotated or turned upside down or at. any angle desired. The gears 17 mesh with an operating gear 50. which is connected to a shaft 51. extending from end to end of the casing. This shaft 51 is eonneeted to the gears 50 in each easing. so that all of the gears 50 may be simultaneously rotated and thereby all of the trays simultaneously turned. The gear 50 is secured to the shaft 51 by means of a set screw so that the said gear may be disconnected from the shaft 51 by loosening the set screw. so that the trays in any one or more compartments may be disconnected from the shaft .31 and therefore remain in lixed position.

The trays are provided with adjustable partitions 55. so that the eggs are held in fixed position and are theriby prevented from shifting during the turning process. The :nljustahility of these partitions wili also permit of the partial filling of the trays. A ft er adjustin these partitions are held in tixed positions by pins fit), which en gage in the meshes of the wire nettings 36 as shown in Fig. "III.

From the above. it will be understood that the trays are so constructed that they are held in fixed position in their supports. These trays may be placed at any desired angle or turned entirely over and by this adjustment of the. tray the eggs may be. properly positioned and turned as is necessary during the period o1 incubation.

In the present instance. the trays are moved through an angle of 180 degrees and back again. and the stops 45 are thereby ett'ective in preventing the trays from sliding from their supports during the, turning operation.

llach compartment provided with a door. indicated at 60. whereby access may be had to the trays. It will be understood that the upper tier of compartments is entirely indcpemlent of the lower tier of compartments. and is merely supported on the low'er easing as a matter of eonveniemre aml to economize space.

The operatiol'i of my device is thought to be clear from the above detailed description of the construction and also from the d scription of the manner of operation of the different devices which contribute to making up the assembled construction. Through the cooperation of the various features described in detail. I have provided an incubator in which the capacity is very great and in which the etiiciency of the batch is a maximum. It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus (ifiSfltlbEtl my invention, I claim:

1. An incubator apparatus comprising a casing having partitions therein forming be readily turned so as to.

compartments arranged end to end and side to side. a heating system for said incubator autmnatically controlled at a uniform telnperaturc. including heating pipes located in the upper portion of said compartments, cgg supporting mean located in said compartment beneath said heating pipes, said casing having means located below v aid pipes for admitting fresh air to the compartment and an opening! to permit air to escape therefrom. a dnlllprr i'or controlling said lastmentiom-d opening and a thermostat for each compartment located wholly within each cbmpartment and connected by a suitable mechanism to said damper for simultaneously controlling the temperature of the compartment and the amount of fresh air supplied thereto independently of said automatically controlled heating system, said damper bping capable of substantially entirely shutting off the supply of fresh air to the compartment.

2. A mamml'ith incubator comprising in combination, a plurality of compartments, a heating system common to each of said compartments, automatically controlled at a uniform temperature, egg-supporting means located in each of said compartments, means for admitting fresh air to each compartment, each of said compartments being provided with anzopening to permit air to escape therefrom, a damper for controlling said last-mentioned opening, thermostatically operated means for each compartment connected by suitable mechanism to said damper for regulating both the temperature in a compartment and the amount of fresh air supplied thereto independently of said automatically controlled heating system and means for lnoistcning the air as it is supplied to a compartment, said theormostatically operated means in each compartment being wholly independent of every other compartment, said mechanism arranged so as to be capable of shutting off the entire fresh air supplied to the compartments.

3. A mammoth incubator comprising in combination, aplurality of compartments, a heating system common to each of said compartments automatically controlled at a uniform temperature, egg-supporting meant: located in each of said compartments, means for admittin fresh air to each compartment, each 0 said compartments being proplied thereto independently of said auto matically controlled heating system and independently ot every other compartment ineluding menus capable of substantially entirely shutting oti' the supply ol fresh air to the coml'iartmcnt.

i. All incubator apparatus comprising a casing having partitions therein forming compartments arranged end to end aml side by side. said compartments aranged side by side bcingspaccd to perinit the passage of air thcrebetwecn to an aperture in the side walls through which the air passes into the cmnpartment, means between said walls separating said apertures, said casing havingopenings through which the air may escape from said compartments, a damper for controlling cach of said openings, a thermostat in each con'ipartment. for positioning said damper, trays in each compartment, a trough adapted to contain water, and means for supporting said trough whereby the air passing to the compartments is led over the surface of said water.

In an incubator apparatus, a casing having partitions therein forming compart- -ments arranged side by side and end to end,

said compartments arranged side byside being spaced to form an air chamber, and each wall of said compartments adjacent said chamber being provided with an aperture communicating with the interior of said compartment and with said chamber, a deflector in said chamber separating said apertures, the device being so arranged as to permit the passage of air from the upper part of the interior of said compartment, means operative to control said passage of air, and a thermostat in said compartment for auton'iatically controlling said controlling means in conformity with the temperature of the compartment.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 27th day of August 1913.

HOlVARD L. DAVIS.

\Vitnesses:

J AMES H. BELL, E. L. FULLERTON 

